Automatic trim correction



Jan. U, 1961 R. e. YUNKER ETAL 3,298,344

AUTOMATIC TRIM CORRECTION Filed Sept. 20. 1965,

2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan, 17, 1967 Filed Sept. 20, 19 5 3 as so R. E. YUNKERETAL AUTOMATIC TRIM CORRECTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I[ \"VEN1ORS ROBERT E.YUNKER BY JOHN P. SOUTHERN 62 FIG. 7

I HTTOR/I/FYS United States Patent 3,298,344 AUTOMATIC TRIM CORRECTHONRobert E. Yunker, 3635 Evanston N., Seattle, Wash. 98103, and John P.Southern, 910 Valley St., Seattle, Wash. 98109 Filed Sept. 20, 1965,Ser. No. 488,705 6 Claims. (Cl. 11466.5)

The present invention relates to trim correcting apparatus for boats,and more particularly to such an apparatus including panel means forchanging trim by water reaction, and means for automatically sensing acondition of improper fore and aft or lateral trim and then causingoperation of said panel means, for automatically correcting the trim.

In the operation of boats, it is highly desirable to be able to exercisesome control over the fore and aft and lateral tilting movements of theboat during forward travel of the same. Various devices for controllingsuch tilting movements have been heretofore proposed, typical examplesof which are disclosed by: Bennett, US. Patent No. 3,062,167; Jacobs etal. US. Patent No. 3,001,499;

Sherrill, US. Patent No. 3,046,928; Curtis, US. Patent- No. 3,058,442;Frederick, US. Patent No. 3,159,131; and Sherrill, US. Patent No.3,177,837. Each of these patents discloses trim correcting meanscomprising a pair of generally horizontal water reaction panels, one oneach side of the center line of the boat. Each panel is hinged along itsforward edge to the boat substantially at the level of the undersurfaceof the boat. Means are provided for pivotally moving each panel aboutits hinge means, from a retracted inactive position downwardly to anactive position, wherein it slopes downwardly and rearwardly from theundersurface of the boats bottom.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a trimcorrecting system of the same general type as those disclosed by theabove-mentioned patents, but in which a novel fluid pressure actuatedexpansible chamber means is used for moving each water reaction paneldownwardly from its inactive position to its active position, andfurther including a unique apparatus for automatically sensing acondition of improper fore and aft or lateral trim, and then in responseto the signal received, controlling the supply of fluid to and from theexpansible chamber means, for causing changes in the position of thewater reaction panels. Briefly, the fluid supply system comprises asource of fluid under pressure; supply conduit means leading from suchsource to each expansible chamber means, and including a separate inletconduit leading into each expansible chamber means; and a normallyclosed solenoid valve in each inlet conduit. The automatic control meanscomprises electrical control circuitry including mercury switch meansoperable in response to boat roll or list beyond a predeterminedposition of lateral tilt to open only the solenoid valve in the inletconduit leading to the expansible chamber means on the low side of theboat, and mercury switch means operable in response to bow rise beyond apredetermined position to open the solenoid valve in both inletconduits.

In preferred form, the expansible chamber means comprises a hermeticallysealed inflatable tube member interposed between the water reactionpanel, and a fixed support therefor spaced above the water reactionpanel. The

inflatable tube means includes a pair of upwardly extending stems, onebeing an inlet stem and the other being an outlet stem, The stemsproject upwardly through openings therefor in the fixed support shelf,and supply and exhaust tube means, respectively, are connected to thestems above the shelf. The tube means leading to the inlet stem is apart of supply conduit means leading from a source of compressed air.The tube means connected 3,298,344 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 to the outletstem is a part of an exhaust conduit means which leads to theatmosphere.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a trim correctindevice composed of a rigid bracket having an upstanding front wall bywhich it is mounted onto the lower portion of the transom of a boat, anda fixed shelf integral therewith, extending rearwardly from the lowerportion of said front wall; and a reactance member secured to thetransom below said bracket, with both the bracket and the reactancemember being constructed from a glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin.In preferred form, the lower portion of the front wall of the bracket isoffset rearwardly from the upper portion of such bracket, and thereactance member includes an upstanding front wall, the upper portion ofwhich is positionable between t the transom and the lower portion of thefront wall of the bracket, and is securable to the transom in a positionof coplanar parallelism with the upper portion of the front wall of saidbracket. cludes a relatively narrow support strip extending rear- Wardlyin fixed position from the lower portion of the front wall of saidreactance member; a relatively large water reactance panel ofrectangular proportions disposed rearwardly of said support strip, andspaced below theshelf of said bracket; hinge'means pivotally connectingthe water reaction panel to the support strip; and a rear wall or flangethat extends upwardly from the rear edge of the water reaction panel.The inflatable tube means, which is constructed from rubber or arubberlike material, is bounded at the top by the shelf, at the bottomby the water reaction panel, at its front by the front wall of thereactance member, and at its rear by the upstanding rear wall of thereactance member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a trimcorrecting device of the character described wherein the principalcomponents are made from non-corrosive materials, and wherein suchcomponents are interrelated and arranged in such a manner that themetallic fastener and/or coupler elements used with such device do notcontact and are not situated in close proximity to a metal part,resulting in galvanic corrosion being no problem.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the fol-lowing description, appendedclaims, and annexed drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from above and looking generally tothe rear of a boat equipped with a pair of trim correcting devicestypifying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fore and aft sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takenthrough an intermediate portion of one of the trim correcting devices,including a solid line showing of the reactance member and theinflatable tube member in inactive positions, and a broken line showingof such members in active positions, wherein the inflatable tube memberis inflated and the water reaction panel of the reactance member slopesdownwardly and rearwardly from the bottom of the boat;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one of the trim correctindevices, with the central rearward portion of the rigid shelf portion ofits mounting bracket being cut away for clarity of illustration of thestem portions of the inflatable tube member;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the fluid supply system and an electricalcontrol means therefor, typifying an aspect of the invention, such viewshowing the position taken by the mercury in the switch capsules ofmercury switch means when the boat is listing to the port side an amountgreater than the angle of inclination of the laterally directed switchcapsules, and showing the valve in the inlet line leading to the trimcorrecting device on the low The reactance member also in- .1 =3) sideof the boat, and the valve in the exhaust conduit means leading from thetrim correcting device on the high side of the boat, both open;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a typical grouping of mercuryswitch capsules, involving two pairs of fore and aft directed capsulesand two pairs of laterally directed capsules, and related to a top planoutline of the boat;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG.5, and showing a related pair of the laterally directed mercury switchcapsules mounted on inclined positions on a support table, the angle ofinclination equaling a selected maximum permissible angle of lateraltilt, with the contacts being situated at the upper end of the capsules,and with the support table being level; and

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6, but showing the support table and themercury capsules thereon tilted in the position they occupy when theboat is listed to the port side.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, a pair of trim correction devices10, constructed according to the present invention, are shown attachedto the lower portion of the transom T of boat B, in symmetricalrelationship on opposite sides of the boats keel K.

Each trim correction device 10 is shown to comprise a rigid mountingbracket 12 having an upstanding mounting wall 14 and a rearwardlyextending, generally horizontal shelf 16. Triangular brace members 18,or the like, extending between the mounting wall 14 and the shelf 16,give rigidity to the mounting bracket 12.

A plurality of openings, some of which are designated 20 in FIG. 3, maybe provided in the mounting wall 14, for receiving bolts 22, or thelike, used for securing the bracket 12 to the transom T. As clearlyshown by FIG. 2, a reactance member 23 is mounted on the transom T belowbracket 12. The lower part of the brackets mounting wall 14 ispreferably offset rearwardly of the upper portion, so as to providespace between it and the transom T, in which space the upper portion ofthe forward wall 24 of the reactance member 23 may be situated,substantially in coplanar parallelism with the upper portion of wall 14(FIG. 2).

A plurality of openings 26 are provided in the upper portion of wall 24,and are appropriately located so that they are registerable with theopenings 20 in the lower part of wall 14. Thus, some of the fasteningbolts 22 may extend through both an opening 29 in wall 14 and an opening26 in wall 24, and serve to secure bot-h the mounting bracket 12 and thereactance member 23 to the transom T. Additional openings 28 may beprovided in the lower part of wall 24 for the reception therein ofscrews 30, or the like.

In addition to front wall 24, the reactance member 23 comprises a narrowsupport strip 32 forming a near rightangle corner with wall 24, agenerally horizontal water reaction panel 34, a hinge 36 interconnectingthe water reaction panel 34 with the support strip 32, and a rear flange38 upstanding from the rear edge of panel 34 and terminatingsubstantially at the level of, or somewhat above, shelf 16. As shown byFIG. 2, the hinge 36 is located substantially at the level of theundersurface of the bottom 40 of boat B. Also, the trim correctiondevice 10 is positioned on the transom T with the water reaction panel34 substantially at the level of the undersurface of the bottom 40.

Preferably, both bracket 12 and reactance member 23 are constructed froma glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin, (i.e. fiber glass) a typicalresin being polymerizable unsaturated polyester, for example. The hinge36 may merely be a reduced thickness portion of this material, as isillustrated.

A hermetically sealed tube, bag or flexible walled container 42 of aresilient, rubber-like material is provided in the space defined on topof the shelves 16, on bottom by the water reaction panel 34, at front bythe lower portion of wall 24, and the rear by the upstanding rear flange38. As used herein, the term rubber-like material" means any materialhaving the properties of the rubber used in inner tubes for pneumaticmotor vehicle tires, and any equivalent materials capable of beinginflated when formed into a closed container, and capable ofsubstantially returning to its original shape when the inflating fluidpressure is released. Preferably, the tube 42 is formed to include apair of upstanding stems, designated 44 and 46, respectively, in FIG. 3.Each stem 44, 46 is similar to a valve stem for an inner tube, but doesnot include an internal valve device.

A pair of openings 48, 50 are provided in the central portion of shelf16. Stem 44 extends upwardly through opening 48, and stem 46 extendsthrough opening 50. The stems 44, 48 may be externally threaded so thata retaining nut 47 may be screwed onto them from above the shelf 16. Oneof the stems 44, 46 is an inlet stem and the other is an outlet stem. Inthe illustrated embodiment, stem 44 is the inlet and stem 46 is theoutlet stem.

A motive fluid inlet tub 52, forming a part of supply conduit meansleading from a source of motive fluid, is attached to the portion ofinlet stem 44 which stands up above shelf 16. In similar fashion, anexhaust tube 54, forming a part of an exhaust conduit means, is attachedto the portion of stem 46 which stands up above the shelf 16. In thedrawing, tube members 52, 54 are shown in the form of flexible hoses,and conventional hose clamps 56 are used for securing them to the stems44, 46, respectively. In an arrangement such as this, the nuts 47 may bedispensed with, and the hose clamps 56 many he used to secure theinflatable tube member 42 to the bracket 12.

As will hereinafter be described in greater detail, an off-on valve isprovided in each supply conduit means, and another off-on valve means isprovided in each exhaust conduit means. As will be apparent, when motivefluid is supplied into the inflatable tube 42 through its inlet stem 44,and the valve in the exhaust conduit means is closed, the tube 42 willbe inflated to a size larger than the space for it between shelf 16 andwater reaction panel 34. Since panel 16 is relatively rigid andsubstantially immovable, and since water reaction panel 34 is pivotallymovable about the hinge 36, when the tube 42 is in flated, it forceablyswings the panel 34 downwardly from a position substantially even withthe undersurface of bottom 40 into a position wherein it slopesdownwardly and re arwardly from the undersurface of the bottom.

During boat travel the water that flows relatively across theundersurface of a water reaction panel 34 is deflected downwardlythereby, creating an upwardly directed force component by waterreaction, tending to lift the trim correction device It and the part ofthe boat to which it is secured. The water also tends to push the panel34 upwardly, but such movement is resisted by the fluid in tube 42.However, when the valve in the exhaust conduit means is opened, and thesupply of motive fluid is stopped, the water force can and will returnthe water reaction panel 34 to a position substantially even with theundersurfaoe of bottom 40.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-7, the supply conduit means of which the inlettubes 52 are a part includes a stem line or conduit 53 leading from thesource of motive fluid, a pressure regulator 60 in said main conduit 58,and branch conduits 62 leading from main conduit 58 to the inlet tubes52. A normally closed off-0n solenoid valve V1 is situated between thebranch conduit 62 and the inlet tube 52 for one of the devices 10, and alike normally closed off-0n solenoid valve V2 is interposed between thebranch conduit 62 and the inlet tube 52 leading to the other device 10.

Preferably, compressed air is used as the motive fluid, and the sourceof motive fluid comprises a storage tank 64 fed by a compressor 66'driven by an electric motor 68.

A check valve 70 is located in the inlet to the storage tank 64 from thecompressor 66, and is adapted to permit compressed air to flow into butnot out from the tank 64 through said inlet.

The electrical circuitry for the electric motor 68 includes a source ofdirect current 72, a manually operated off-on switch 74, and a pressureresponsive switch 76. The pressure responsive switch 76 senses thepressurein tank 64 and energizes the motor 68 whenever such pressuredrops below a predetermined minimum valve. The tank 64 may also beusedas a supply of compressed air for operating other auxiliaries aboard theboat, such as an air horn 7 8, for example.

A normally closed oif-on solenoid valve V3 is provided in the exhaustconduit 54 leading from the trim correct ing device 10 with which valveV1 is associated, and a like normally closed off-on solenoid valve V4 isprovided in the exhaust conduit 54 leading from the other trimcorrecting device 10.

According to one aspect of theinvention, a trim condition sensing meansis provided for sensing acondition of improper trim and then in responsethereto controlling the valves V1, V2, V3, V4 in an appropriate mannerto correct or at least improve the trim.

By way of typical example, the trim condition sensing mechanism maycomprise four mercury switch assemblies, two of which, designated S1 andS2 are directed across or laterally of the boat, and the other two,designated S3, S4 are directed longitudinally of the boat, in the foreand aft direction.

Each switch assembly may comprise a pair of switch capsules.The-capsules 8t], 82 of switch assembly S1, and the capsules 84, 86 asswitch assembly S2, are each supported in an inclined position, with therise being from their innermost to their outermost ends. The capsules88, 90 of switch assembly S3, and the capsules 92, 94 of switch assemblyS4, are also each supported in an inclined position. Capsules 88, 90arise from their rear toward the front ends, and capsules 92, 94 risefrom their front to their rear ends.

As clearly shown by FIG. 4, a pair of contacts are located at the upperend of each of the switch capsules. When the support table 96 to whichthe capsules are secured is level or inclined an amount less than theinclination of the switch capsules, the mercury gravitates to and staysat the lower ends of the capsules.

By way of typical and therefore non-limitive example, the switchcapsules may be of the type manufactured by the Micro Switch Division ofHoneywell, of Freeport, Illinois, and identified as single-pole,single-throw switch, No. AS452 A1.

The switch capsules may be supported in an inclined position by mountingthem on the inclined surface of a triangular block that is in turnsecured to the support table 96. Conventional mercury switch mountingclips may be secured to the inclined blocks so that the switch capsulesmay be easily installed and easily removed.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the switch assemblies S1, S2 are shown to beinclined an amount equaling the selected maximum permissible amount oflateral tilt orlist of the boat. As shown by FIG. 7, when for somereason the boat lists to the port side an amount greater than theinclination of capsules 80, 82 relative to the uppersurface of table 96,the mercury gravitates to the ends of such capsules 80, 82 at which thecontacts are located, bridges said contacts, and closes the circuit ofwhich switch assembly S1 is a part. As shown by FIG. 4, this causesenergization and opening of solenoid vales V1, V4. The opening of valveV1 permits compressed air to flow from the tank 64 into the infilatabletube member 42 associated with the port side trim correction device 10.As will be apparent, such tube member 42 is inflated since valve V3remains closed. As it increases in volume the tube 42 pushes the waterreaction panel 34 of the port side device l downwardly into an activeposition in which it slopes downwardly and'rearwardly from theundersurface of the bottom 40. Water moving relatively across the lowersurface of panel 34 is defected downwardly thereby, creating a liftingforce by water reaction that tends to roll the boat back toward a levelposition. While this is happening the trim correcting device 10 on thestarboard side of the boat is inactive because the valve V4 in exhaustconduit 64 is open.

As will be apparent from an inspection of FIG. '4, the switch assemblyS2 becomes active to energize the solenoid valve means V2, V3 wheneverthe boat experiences a starboard list greater than the inclination ofthe switch capsules 84, 86.

Whenever the bow of the boat rises in the water an amount greater than apredetermined maximum, determined by the inclination of switch capsules92, 94, the mercury in switch capsules 92, 94 will gratitate to the rearends of such capsules and bridge the contacts thereat. The circuitry ofwhich solenoid valve means V1, V2 are a part is closed, and such valvesV1, V2 open, While valves V3, V4 remain closed. Compressed air rushesinto the inflatable tube member 42 of both devices 10,

moving both water reaction panels 34 downwardly into an operative oractive position. Substantially the same amount of lift is produced ateach side of the stern of the boat, and such lift causes the stem torise and the bow to drop.

Whenever the bow drops below a predetermined position, determinedby theinclination of switch capsules 88, 90, the mercury will gravitate 'tothe forward ends of such capsules 88, and bridge the contacts thereat.As will be evident, by the time this happens the mercury in capsules 92,94 will have gravitated back to the lower endsof such capsules, causinga break in the circuit of which solenoid valves V1, V2 are a part, andas a result the solenoid valves V1, V2 will be closed.

The closing of switches 88, 90 completes the circuit of which valves V3,V4 are a part, whereby such valves V3, V4 open and permit the escape ofcompressed air from both tubes 42. The water moving relatively acrossthe lower surfaces of the water reaction panels 34 returns such panels34 to their inactive positions at a slow rate determined by the rate ofescape of the compressed air through the outlet stems 46 and the exhaustconduit means 54.

As will readily be apparent, during the exhausting procedure the tubes42 in effect function as dashpots or shock absorbers. Since the releaseof compressed air from the tube 42 is not sudden, but rather occursrelatively slowly over a period of time, thevmovement of the waterreaction panels 34 is not sudden and jerky, but rather is slow,resulting in a smooth transition from one attitude of the boat to thenext, by operation of the trim correcting devices 10.

As previously mentioned, bracket 12 and reactance member 26 are bothpreferably constructed from a glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin, atypical example of the resin being polymerizable unsaturated polyester.The inflatable tube 42 is constructed from rubber or a rubher-likeresilient material. The stems 44, 46 are constructed from or at leastcovered with rubber or a similar material. Tubes 52, 54 are preferablyrub'ber, plastic, nylon or some other non-metalic material. The nuts orretaining elements 47, if used, may be made from nylon, plastic, or asimilar material. All of the above-mentioned materials are noncorrosive.They will not corrode themselves and their use minimizes the corrosionof the metalic fastener elements 22, 30 and the metalic hose clamps 56.These components 22, 30, 56 are subject to oxidation because they aremade of metal, but they do not contact and are situated in closeproximity to another metallic part. Consequently, the conditionsnecessary for the occurrence of galvanic corrosion are not present, andessentially no galvanic corrosion occurs. This is a very importantfeature of the present invention 'because galvanic corrosion is a muchmore destructive than simple oxidation.

The solenoid valves V1, V2, V3, V4 are located inside of the 'boat,forwardly of the transom T. An opening is provided in the transom T foreach of the tube members 52, 54. Each tube member 52, 54 may becontinuous and extend through its opening in the transom. Alternatively,a through hull fitting of nylon, for example, may be provided at eachopening, and each tube 52, 54 may be made into sections a forwardsection interconnecting between one of the related solenoid controlledvalves and the forward end of the fitting, and a rear-ward sectioninterconnected between the rearward portion of the fitting and theportion of the related stem that projects above the support shelf 16.

In relatively large boats it may be necessary to install two, or maybethree trim correcting devices 10 on each side of the keel K. In such anarrangement inlet and outlet manifolds may be provided, with each inlettube member '52 leading from the inlet manifold, and each outlet'tubemember 54 leading to the outlet manifold. The inlet manifold would thenbe connected to the air tank, and a outlet manifold would communicatewith the atmosphere. 7

Having thus described the invention, it is clear that the objects asstated above have been attained in a simple and practical manner. Whilea particular embodiment of the inventionhas been shown and described, itis to be understood that changes may be made in the constructionandarrangement of the various parts without de panel being hinged alongits forward edge to the boat sub-- parting from the sphere and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the following claims. For example, morethan four switch assemblies may be employed. The trim condition sensingmechanism may include eight switch assemblies, situated approximatelyforty-five degrees apart. Or a circular, single capsule mercury switchmay be used, such capsule having one ball'of mercury and a plurality ofpairs of contacts.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a boat having a bottom; a pair of generallyhorizontal water reaction panels, one on each side of the center line ofthe boat, each water reaction panel being hinged along its forward edgeto the boat substantially at the level of the undersurface of saidbottom; a separate expansible chamber means for each water reactionpanel, operable to swing the panel downwardly from an inactive positionsubstantially even with or above the undersurface of said bottom to anactive position wherein the panel slopes downwardly and rearwardly fromthe undersurface of said bottom; a source of fluid under pressure;supply conduit means leading from said source to each expansible chambermeans, and including a separate conduit leading into each expansiblechamber means; a normally closed solenoid valve in each inlet conduit;and electrical control means for said solenoid valves, including mercuryswitch means'operable in response to boat roll beyond a predeterminedposition of lateral tilt to open the solenoid valve in the inlet conduitleading to the expansible chamber means on the low side of the boat.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said electrical control meansfurther includes mercury switch means operable in response to bow risebeyond a predetermined position to open the solenoid valve in both inletconduits.

3. In combination, a boat having a bottom; a pair of I generallyhorizontal water reaction panels, one on each side of the center line ofthe boat, each water reaction stantially at the level of theundersurface of said bottom; a separate expansible chamber means foreach water re-- action panel, operable to swing the panel downwardlyfrom an inactive position substantially even with or above: theundersurface of said bottom to an active position. wherein the panelslopes downwardly and rearwardly' from the undersurface of said bottom;a source of fluid. under pressure; supply conduit means leading fromsaid. source to each expansible chamber means, and including; a separateinlet conduit leading into each expansible chamber means; a normallyclosed solenoid valve in: each inlet conduit; an outlet conduit leadingfrom each expansi-ble chamber means; a normally closed solenoid valve"in each outlet conduit; and electrical control means for said solenoidvalves, including mercury switch means operable in response to boat rollbeyond a predetermined position of lateral tilt to substantiallysimultaneously open the solenoid valve in the inlet conduit leading tothe expansible chamber means on the low side of the boat, and thesolenoid valve in the outlet conduit'leading from the expansible chambermeans on the high side of the boat.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said electrical control meansfurther includes mercury switch means operable in response to bow risebeyond a predetermined position to open the solenoid valves in bothinlet conduits, with the solenoid valves in the outlet conduit remainingclosed.

5. In combination, a boat having a bottom; a pair of generallyhorizontal water reaction panels, one on each. side of the center lineof the boat, each water reaction panel being hinged along its forwardedge to the boat sub-- stanti-ally at the level of the under'surface ofsaid bottom; a separate expansible chamber means for each water reactionpanel, operable to swing the panel downwardly from an inactive positionsubstantially even with or above: the undersurface of said bottom to anactive position wherein the panel slopes downwardly and rearwardly fromthe undersurface of said bottom; a source of fluid under pressure;supply conduit means leading from said source to each expansible chambermeans, and including a separate inlet conduit leading into eachexpansible chamber means; a normally closed solenoid valve in each inletconduit; and electrical control means for said solenoid valves,including mercury switch means operable in response to bow rise beyond apredetermined position to open the solenoid valves in both inletconduits.

6. The combination of claim 5, further including an outlet conduitleading from each expansible' chamber means, and a normally closedsolenoid valve in each outlet conduit, and wherein said electricalcontrol means further includes mercury switch means operable in responseto lowering of the bow below said predetermined position to close thesolenoid valves in the inlet conduits and to open the solenoid valves inboth outlet conduits.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,265,206 12/1941Stampfl ll4--66.5 3,001,499 9/1961 Jacobs et a1. 11466.5 3,002,48510/1961 Curtis 114-665 3,026,839 3/1962 Fridge ll4-66.S

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A BOAT HAVING A BOTTOM; A PAIR OF GENERALLYHORIZONTAL WATER REACTION PANELS, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE CENTER LINE OFTHE BOAT, EACH WATER REACTION PANEL BEING HINGED ALONG ITS FORWARD EDGETO THE BOAT SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE LEVEL OF THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAIDBOTTOM; A SEPARATE EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER MEANS FOR EACH WATER REACTIONPANEL, OPERABLE TO SWING THE PANEL DOWNWARDLY FROM AN INACTIVE POSITIONSUBSTANTIALLY EVEN WITH OR ABOVE THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM TO ANACTIVE POSITION WHEREIN THE PANEL SLOPES DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROMTHE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM; A SOURCE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE;SUPPLY CONDUIT MEANS LEADING FROM SAID SOURCE TO EACH EXPANSIBLE CHAMBERMEANS, AND INCLUDING A SEPARATE CONDUIT LEADING INTO EACH EXPANSIBLECHAMBER MEANS; A NORMALLY CLOSED SOLENOID VALVE IN EACH INLET CONDUIT;AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID SOLENOID VALVES, INCLUDING MERCURYSWITCH MEANS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO BOAT ROLL BEYOND A PREDETERMINEDPOSITION OF LATERAL TILT TO OPEN THE SOLENOID VALVE IN THE INLET CONDUITLEADING TO THE EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER MEANS ON THE LOW SIDE OF THE BOAT.